The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-25
nong them as their stated pastor until Octo'

among them as their stated pastor until octo-
"At this time he was released from his pas
toral charge on the ground OF bodily indispo-.
sition, still serving the churches as occasional
supply until they could obtain the services OF
another pastor"
wns an organized church even prior TO 175, in
tho recorded fact that the Rev. VIM. Ten uent,
some OF who desccndantS are in this region
to-day and members OF this church. made q
tour through the State in IT'S preaching the
gospel and after his sermon he would address
the people in the interest Of on association OF
that day inwhich those who subscribed to It
bound themselves by every tie of religion and
honor to stand up for the defence OF South
Carolina and the whole country.
1t was on this sem-religious and semi-war-
like mission that "Rev. VIM. Tennent, on the
2nd of September. l775, preached at Bull Town
to one of the most crowded assemblies he eV-
er saw
| REMOVAL OF THE CHURCH TC ITS PRESENT
LOCATION.
While then. the exact date of organization
of this church cannot be definitely settled, we
| can safely say 1t was an organized church DUR
ing the ministry Of Mr.. Harris. which COM
menced in l772 and ended l7T9 1t was during
the period Of his pastorate that the church
cation. A large frame building was here
erected. The same old frame Is still In the
body of the present new house, and the name
| changed
Among the first Elders we find the names Of
Mr.. Russell, WIN. Mckinley and Jas. Caldwell.
The church after Mr.. Harris day Of active
service was occasionally supplied by him and ana
| IL Is snid, 1.-THE three preaching stations ABOVE
mentioned, Bull Town, Fort Boone, Long
Cane, 1. e. HOpewell), grew under his care to
be regular organized churches"
| "Mr Harris as history states, was not ABOVE
medium stature and his severe determination
commanded the respect OF all who knew him.
He was regarded as Jealous missionary, q
pi9usa and exempary ynd d.
ent he was peculiarly fitted for those stirring
! times, and 1t was his boast that every man IN
ber of the Provincial Congress Of South Caro-
lima, and in his frontier life he was very use
full as minister and as O physician. he was
known as old DR.. Harris. Although very ge-
nial and tolerant he was an uncompromising
cham pion OF the faith, and he would not hesl-
tate to demonstrate his belief by physical ar-
guments.
| AFTER THE CLOSE OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
At the close of the war he was the only Pres
byterian minister In Abbeyille connGy, n ont me ne
Associate Reformed brother.
| Mr.. McMullen became offended at the fear
less independence of Mr.. Harris, dnd ut some
and gave vent TO feelings more warlike than
Christian, when some one said TO him, y on
had better take care, old DR.. Harris will get Of
Sae the better of me in hIther and yam, but I
|
hae the advantage in length"
Mr.. McMulen preached occasionally as q
matter of kindness to the Rocky kiver peo-
pie, but after Mr.. Harrls's uay the church was
vacant for six years, when the Rev. Robert
Neck lin was called to the pastorate.
"On the 29th Of July. 17S5, he was ordained
the Rev. Jas. Edmonds preaching the sermon
and delivering the charge TO the pastor ana
and people,"
WHEN WAR HAD sMooTHED IT'S wRINKLED
FRONT.
"a vast concourSe Of people assembled at
Davis's bridge on this occasion TO " wltness the
ordination and instament of Mr.. Robert
Long Cane and Rocky River Such was the
eagernpsS OF the people 10 witness this cere-
Inony that 1t was deemed advisable 10 Seiect u
suitable spot between the two cnngrrgatlOns
and there in the rich cathedral OF nature the
Prcsbytery of South Carolina held Its third
meeting for this solemn purpose. TINS ordl,
nation was n scene never To be FORGOTTEN, anu
certainly il was beautiful sight altef TN Inc ter as
congregations meeting in the exercise or their
simple worship which requires no temple
| built with hands.
kets, nor the sentinel pacing to and fro, put
on the green grass and under the cool shadow
OF the spreading water oaks were groups OF
merry children and happy mothers Sdan ,Sn whist
sembly seated on logs around, was nearly as
sparkil ling as the limpid waters which flowed
In that assembly could be seen many of the
devoted Huguenots who were settled ten
miles below. During Mr.. Mecklin's ministry
they fiocked to this church In great numbers
These prosecuted, truth loving and noble peo-
| pie, many OF whose descendants are stl liy-
Ing In this region to-day, never lost their love
| for Gods house. After their own church had
ceased TO be, and they could no longer Wor,
ship III their own native tongue they nocRcd
selves happy they could meet and commemo-
rate the love OF their departed Lord.
History says, sit was affecting to see them
meet Mt this place always sa,utins each other
with kiss while the tears flowed down their
remembered Zinn." These wonderful Hugue-
nots, these heavenly minded people who man
ifestcd such devotion to the church that they
could walk over ten miles through the heat
and the cold tn hear the gospel prenched, oc-
cupy and deserve sncrcd place in the history
of Rocky River church.
HIS GRAVE IS WITH Us.-THE MEMORY OF
HIS ASSOCIATES IS PRESERVED.
Mr.. Mccklin's ministry lnsted only three
was stricken with fever and died, and his
grave Is with us until this day. The bench Of
elders ut this time were Nathan Lusk. Samuel
Porter, Hugh Mecklin, (brother of the deceas-
cd pastor), Robert Allen and VIM. Bask In.
The church was vacant but q short time Of.
ter Mr.. Mecklin's death. Having love for
the gospel and high appreciation Of the
means OF grace and being SUI anited Win
Hopewell they preferred call to Rev. Francis
Cuinmins, D. D., who accepted their call and
became pastor in 1889. In this relation he con-
tinued until 1896 when his connection with
Hopewell ceased, but he still retained his con-
nection with Rocky River and continued his
valuable services in this church until 1903
when the pastoral relation was dissolved and
he rem owed to the state of Georgia. While
here his wife died and was buried ut Rocky
River graveyard, lenving several children
one of whom married DR.. Bouchell, and re-
sided very near Rocky River church Tor many
years. The Doctor and his family went to the
West, about 1888 or 1910, and his wife is since
dead.
TIE BEGINNING OF THE tENTURY-FAcTs
BY JAMES II. BAsKIN, ANDREW GILES,
WILLIAM sPEER.
History says, "Dr. Cummins was a fine
scholar, well read theologian. He was un.
commonly gifted in prayer, was vivid and
clear in his conceptions and had great power
In the use Of language"
His pastOrTlte lhsted Tor fourteen years ana
this church, In common with many others, IS
indebted TO his pen for all the reliable facts In
Its history from the beginning down to the
time Of his departure In 1903.
From this date until 1881 we IRE dependent
for the correct history of this church upon
fncts taken from the manuscripts OF James II.
BaslSin, Andrew Giles and William Speer,
whose concurrent testimony no. one can doubt.
quote the language OF DIR. Howe In whose
hand these papers were placed, "After the re-
moval OF DIR. Cummins the church was vacant
one year, and In 1904 the Rev. John Simpson
served the people as stated supply.
I'm 1906 the Rev: Or. Waddeil took charge OF
the church in which he continued until near
the close of 1911. During his .pastorate the el:
ders were Ezekiel Calhoun, VIM. Caldwell and
Robert Cozby."
preferred q call to the Rev. James Gamble
who served through this decade, and also had